Workshops: Session 3

2:45 pm - 4:00 pm

(A) Medical Issues in Adoption
Presenter: Jane Aronson, M.D., adoptive parent, medical specialist for internationally adopted children, founder and medical director of Worldwide Orphans Foundation

Dr. Aronson will review the medical and developmental issues of children adopted from abroad.  The focus will be on sensory integration, oral motor dysfunction, attachment issues, developmental delays, pre-adoption medical reviews, and how to access resources to help newly adopted children reach their potential and adapt to family life..
Recommended for: nurses, adoptive families, social workers, therapists

(B) Divorce, Remarriage and the Adoptive Family
Presenter: Sue Badeau, adoption professional, adoptive parent

This workshop promises to be an engaging discussion about blended families including biological   and adopted children, step-parents and how divorce affects an adopted child. It will also discuss the effect of cultural differences on the adopted child.
Recommended for: adoptive families, social workers, teachers

(C) Understanding How I Feel
Panel of teens & mid 20's adults moderated by Kimberly Platz, MS, AFTH District Supervisor, adoptee

Adoptees of all ages have different life experiences than birth children. Listen to a panel of adopted teenagers share their feelings toward their adoptions and their lives.
Recommended for: teachers, nurses, adoptive families, social workers, therapists

(D) Transracial Adoption - "Ready or Not"
Presenter:  Phyllis Stevens, Executive Director of Together as Adoptive Parents, Inc. & Pierre Cooper, MSW, REJOICE, Inc.

This workshop will discuss issues and concerns as they relate to transracial parenting and working with children in families of more than one racial background..  It will give parenting tools and strategies. 
Recommended for: adoptive parents, social workers, teachers

(E) Raising Asian children Throughout their life
Presenter:  Regina Levin, ACSW/MSW,LSW & Ray-Ling Hou, MSN, MFT, LMFT, AAMFT

What are the challenges and needs adopted children of Asian descent face throughout their lives? Understand the history of Asian adoptions by American families that are usually transracial adoptions, and what we have learned from the generation of adult adoptees from Asian countries.
Recommended for: adoptive parents, social workers, teachers, therapists